Surgery a Go

[Guest guest]

My Roux-en-y scheduled for 3/6/08 is a go. Due to all the GI work

I have had done the esophagectomy,the cholecystectomy, three j-tubes,

and now a umbilical hernia the suregons were not sure if they could

do anything due to massive scar tissue. I have so much scar tissue

or " adhesions " that three years ago when I was doing yard work some

of them snapped. I fell to the ground in pain and was taken to the

hospital finally sent home but the pain was constant and I was always

tearing them.

I finally went to a pain management specialist. We tried

Lidocaine Patches I had a epidural of sorts that worked for two

weeks. I was told to stop taking the NSAIDS and try to stick with

Tylenol, yeah right. Finally after trying to avoid any opoid meds i

was started on a small amount of Oxycodone, not Oxycontin these were

IR or Immediate Release and Colace. I am now on a 50 mcg Duragesic

Patch stuck to my skin and changed every three days. What I like

about it is it takes away pain but does not give you a " sleepy and

drugged feeling " .

I have 7 different scars on my abdomen and chest. They are going

to use one of the old scars. Pain Mamagement will be a problem. I

hope this works for the reflux and my blood work, as being on tube

feeds has made me anemic needing B-12 and I dehydrate very easily

when you eat very, very small amounts you forget to drink, I damaged

my kidneys by dehydration called chronic tubular necrosis.

THE BEST ADVICE I COULD GIVE ANYONE WHO IS GOING FOR AN

ESOPHAGECTOMY IS THAT POST OP DON'T FOOL YOURSELF OR OTHRS IF YOU DO

NOT FEEL WELL DO NOT GO BACK TO WORK OR RUSH YOURSELF INTO ANYTHING.

I DID AND ENEDED UP WITH 8 YEARS OF COMPLICATIONS. I fooled everyone

8 diffferent multiviamins and 6-10 cups of coffee and working 11-7 as

a nurse. I did that for two year until I ended up in the same ICU I

worked in. I want to go back to work but according to my MD nothing

will be rushed and nothing is certain.

Joe